At least 16 dead in Italy school bus crash

A bus carrying school children has crashed in Italy killing at least 16 people, police said.

The bus, carrying pupils from Hungary, collided with a pylon as it exited a motorway and caught fire in northern Italy.

Many of the victims are children, police said.

The coach was carrying children on a school trip from Hungary Credit: AP

The local highway police chief said the bus was carrying mostly teenage students, teachers and parents.

The pupils were returning from a school trip to France.

Italy's national fire service said on Twitter that another 39 people had been injured.

Tributes were paid in Hungary to the victims Credit: APTN

Vigils were held in Hungary on Saturday to pay tribute to the victims of the crash.

The recovery operation is ongoing and it is thought the death toll could climb.